Mobile terminal device

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal device equipped with radio communicating portions capable of holding a radio communication in accordance with a predetermined communication standard, and a standard signal outputting portion for outputting a signal in a format based on a predetermined signaling system to any display device prepared on an outside, includes a communication standard detecting means for detecting a type of the communication standard selected based on operating conditions of radio communicating portions, when one of the radio communicating portions conforms to plural types of communication standards or when a plurality of radio communicating portions conform to plural types of communication standards respectively, and a signaling system selecting means for selecting automatically a signaling system of the signal that the standard signal outputting portion outputs, in response to the type of the communication standard that the communication standard detecting means detects.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as acellular phone terminal, a mobile information terminal, PHS (PersonalHandyphone System) terminal, or the like and, more particularly, amobile terminal device capable of outputting a signal in a format basedon a predetermined signaling system to an external display device suchas a television monitor prepared on the outside.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent times, various functions are provided to the cellular phoneterminal or the mobile information terminal. In particular, the terminalthat has a function of shooting a photograph or a moving picture with acamera and displaying the image picked up by the shooting on its owndisplay portion is increased in number. Also, often such mobile terminaldevice is equipped with a function of outputting the image picked up bythe shooting to an external device.

For example, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1, it has been proposedin which the image shot by the mobile terminal device should bedisplayed on a screen of the television set by inputting the signaloutput from the mobile terminal device into the television set.

-   Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2005-130176

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems that the Invention is to Solve

In order to input the image or sound signals picked up by the mobileterminal device into the television set, it is desirable that thesignals should be output from the mobile terminal device by using thesignal format based on the standard of the television broadcast. Forexample, in case the signal is adapted to the television set thatreceives the analog broadcast in Japan, the television signals must beoutput from the mobile terminal device by using the signal format basedon the NTSC system.

However, there is a great difference in the signaling system of thetelevision set every region. More particularly, the signal format basedon the NTSC system is employed in the regions containing respectivecountries such as Japan, America, Canada, etc., the signal format basedon the PAL system is employed in the regions such as Germany, Britain,the Netherlands, etc., and the signal format based on the SECAM systemis employed in the regions such as France, Saudi Arabia, Russia, etc.

Therefore, when the mobile terminal devices of the same type are sold invarious regions or when the user who carries one mobile terminal deviceon a trip travels around a plurality of countries, incompatibility insignaling systems occurs between the signals output by the mobileterminal device and the television set that receives the signals. Forexample, the user uses the mobile terminal device that outputs thesignals according to the NTSC system in Germany, the signals output bythe mobile terminal device cannot be displayed on a screen of thetelevision set, for the signaling system of the television set is thePAL system.

For this reason, when a tourist or a businessperson travels around aplurality of countries, for example, either he or she must prepares inadvance the special mobile terminal device that can meet thecommunication standards in the countries as destinations of travel or heor she must possesses a plurality of mobile terminal devices ofdifferent types. Also, even when the same user possesses a plurality ofmobile terminal devices, the user must check the communication standardsin the countries as destinations of travel by user's self and then useselectively one of a plurality of mobile terminal devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminaldevice capable of displaying correctly signals output by the mobileterminal by using a television set, or the like in a region as adestination of travel even when a user of the mobile terminal travelsaround a plurality of regions such as a plurality of countries, or thelike.

Means for Solving the Problems

A mobile terminal device of the present invention equipped with at leastone radio communicating portion capable of holding a radio communicationin accordance with a predetermined communication standard, and astandard signal outputting portion for outputting a signal in a formatbased on a predetermined signaling system to any display device preparedon an outside, includes a communication standard detecting means fordetecting a type of the communication standard selected based onoperating condition or conditions of one or a plurality of radiocommunicating portions when one of the radio communicating portionsconforms to plural types of communication standards or when theplurality of radio communicating portions conform to plural types ofcommunication standards respectively; and a signaling system selectingmeans for selecting automatically a signaling system of the signaloutput by the standard signal outputting portion, in response to thetype of the communication standard that the communication standarddetecting means detects.

The signaling systems to which the television sets conform are varied inresponse to differences of regions such as countries, or the like. Inthis case, it is common that simultaneously the communication standardsto which the signaling system utilized by the cellular phone terminal,or the like in the radio communication corresponds are also varied so asto reflect the difference of the region. For example, the communicationstandards such as GSM, PDC, W-CDMA, UMTS, etc. are employedindependently every region. As a result, the mobile terminal device canspecify the section of region if it can know the communication standardto which the signaling system corresponds. Also, the mobile terminaldevice can specify the signaling system (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, or the like)to which the television set, or the like conforms, based on thespecified section of region.

In the present invention, the format of the signal to be output by thestandard signal outputting portion can be selected automatically to meetthe signaling system to which the external television set used actuallyconforms. In other words, when the radio communicating portion conformssolely to plural types of communication standards or when a plurality ofradio communicating portions conform to different communicationstandards respectively, the mobile terminal device can discriminate thecommunication standard to which the signaling system that is availablein the current region (country) corresponds, by checking the operatingstates of one or plural radio communicating portions. Therefore, theregion (country) can be specified, and also the signaling system towhich the television set, or the like conforms in the concerned regioncan be specified. As a result, even when the user utilizes one mobileterminal device while carrying into various countries, the mobileterminal device can deal automatically with the difference in thesignaling systems depending on the difference of the regions.

Also, as another mode of the present invention, the mobile terminaldevice further includes a conversion table in which informationrepresenting signaling systems that are correlated with a plurality ofcommunication standards respectively are held in advance; wherein thesignaling system selecting means acquires information representing theconcerned signaling system by referring to the conversion table based onthe type of the communication standard detected by the communicationstandard detecting means, and decides the format of the signal to beoutput by the standard signal outputting portion, based on theinformation.

According to this configuration, the information representing thesignaling systems that are correlated with a plurality of communicationstandards respectively are held in advance on the conversion table.Therefore, the adequate signaling system can be specified from the typeof the communication standard detected by the communication standarddetecting means, by referring to the conversion table. Also, there is nonecessity to specify the region.

Also, as still another mode of the present invention, when a pluralityof radio communicating portions that conform to plural types ofcommunication standards respectively are provided, the communicationstandard detecting means checks whether or not a plurality of radiocommunicating portions are in operation respectively, and detects thetype of the communication standard to which the radio communicatingportion that is in operation corresponds.

According to this configuration, a plurality of radio communicatingportions conform to different types of communication standardsrespectively. Therefore, the mobile terminal device can specify thecommunication standard to which the signaling system in the region wherethe terminal device is located corresponds, by specifying the radiocommunicating portion that is now in operation.

Also, another mobile terminal device of the present invention equippedwith at least one radio communicating portion capable of holding a radiocommunication in accordance with a predetermined communication standard,and a standard signal outputting portion for outputting a signal in aformat based on a predetermined signaling system to any display deviceprepared on an outside, includes a base station information acquiringmeans for acquiring information such as a distinction of countries tospecify a region where the terminal device is located or informationrepresenting types of the communication standards to which a radio basestation corresponds, as base station information by using the radiocommunicating portion from the radio base station as a destination ofcommunication when one of the radio communicating portions conforms toplural types of communication standards or when the plurality of radiocommunicating portions conform to plural types of communicationstandards respectively; and a signaling system selecting means forselecting automatically a signaling system of the signal to be output bythe standard signal outputting portion, based on the base stationinformation acquired by the base station information acquiring means.

According to this configuration, the radio communicating portioninstalled into the terminal device itself acquires the base stationinformation by communicating with the predetermined base station.Therefore, the region (country) where the terminal device itself islocated can be specified or the type of the communication standard towhich the base station corresponds can be specified. The signalingsystem selecting means selects automatically the signaling system of thesignal to be output by the standard signal outputting portion.Therefore, the signals that conform to the signaling systems (NTSC, PAL,SECAM, or the like) to which the television set used actually conformscan be output.

Also, as another mode of the present invention, another mobile terminaldevice of the present invention further includes a region conversiontable in which information representing the communication standards orsignaling systems that are correlated with a plurality of regionsindicating distinction of countries, or the like respectively are heldin advance; wherein the signaling system selecting means refers to theregion conversion table based on the base station information that thebase station information acquiring means acquired, and decides thesignaling system of the signal to be selected, based on a referredresult.

According to this configuration, the information representing thecommunication standards or the signaling systems that are correlatedwith a plurality of regions to indicate the distinction of countries, orthe like respectively are held in advance on the region conversiontable. Therefore, the signaling system selecting means can specify theconcerned communication standard or signaling system from the basestation information acquired by the base station information acquiringmeans, by referring the region conversion table.

Also, still another mobile terminal device of the present inventionequipped with at least one radio communicating portion capable ofholding a radio communication in accordance with a predeterminedcommunication standard, and a standard signal outputting portion foroutputting a signal in a format based on a predetermined signalingsystem to any display device prepared on an outside, includes a positioninformation acquiring means for acquiring position informationrepresenting a current position of the terminal device itself; a regionspecifying means for specifying a region such as a distinction ofcountries where the terminal device itself is located, based on theposition information acquired by the position information acquiringmeans; and a signaling system selecting means for selectingautomatically a signaling system of the signal to be output by thestandard signal outputting portion, based on the information of thecurrent region specified by the region specifying means.

According to this configuration, the region specifying means specifiesthe region such as the distinction of countries where the terminaldevice itself is located based on the position information the positioninformation acquiring means acquired. Therefore, the signaling systemthat is employed in the specified region can be specified, and thesignal format suitable for the concerned region can be selectedautomatically. In this case, when the commercially available GPS (GlobalPositioning System) receiver, for example, is employed as the positioninformation acquiring means, the position coordinates(latitude/longitude) can be detected. Also, the region such as thecountry can be specified by comparing the position coordinates with mapinformation.

Also, as another mode of the present invention, still another mobileterminal device of the present invention further includes a regionconversion table in which information representing the communicationstandards or signaling systems that are correlated with a plurality ofregions indicating distinction of countries, or the like respectivelyare held in advance; wherein the signaling system selecting means refersto the region conversion table based on the information of the currentregion specified by the region specifying means, and decides thesignaling system of the signal to be selected, based on a referredresult.

According to this configuration, the information representing thecommunication standards or signaling systems that are correlated with aplurality of regions indicating distinction of countries, or the likerespectively are held in advance on the region conversion table.Therefore, the signaling system selecting means can decide the signalingsystem to be selected from the information of the current regionspecified by the region specifying means, by referring to the regionconversion table.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, even when the user of the terminaltravels across plural regions such as plural countries, or the like inwhich the signaling system (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, or the like) employed inthe display device is different respectively, the signals output by theterminal by using the television set or the like in the region as thedestination of travel can be displayed correctly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A block diagram showing a configuration of principal portions ofa mobile terminal device in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 A flowchart showing principal operations of the mobile terminaldevice shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 A block diagram showing a configuration of principal portions ofa mobile terminal device in a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 A flowchart showing principal operations of the mobile terminaldevice shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 A schematic view showing a configurative example of a tableinstalled into the mobile terminal device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 A block diagram showing a configuration of principal portions ofa mobile terminal device in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 A flowchart showing principal operations of the mobile terminaldevice shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 A schematic view showing a configurative example of a tableinstalled into the mobile terminal device shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 A block diagram showing a configuration of principal portions ofa mobile terminal device in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 A flowchart showing principal operations of the mobile terminaldevice shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS

-   2, 3, 9, 10 radio portion-   4 TV-OUT outputting requesting portion-   5, 5B, 5C, 5D controlling portion-   6, 6B, 6C, 6D TV signaling system selecting portion-   7 TV-OUT signal outputting portion-   8 television set-   11 radio portion-   12 base station-   13 GPS receiving portion-   21, 22 table-   50A, 50B, 50C, 50D mobile terminal device

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

An embodiment of a mobile terminal device of the present invention willbe explained with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 hereinafter. FIG. 1 isa block diagram showing a configuration of principal portions of amobile terminal device in a first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing principal operations of the mobileterminal device shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile terminal device 50A is equipped with aradio portion 2, a radio portion 3, a TV-OUT outputting requestingportion 4, a controlling portion 5, a TV signaling system selectingportion 6, and a TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

In this case, as the particular mobile terminal device 50A, the cellularphone terminal, the mobile information terminal (PDA), the PHS terminal,or the like is assumed.

The radio portion 2 is a circuit equipped with a radio communicationfunction that is necessary for the mobile terminal device 50A to performa function of a cellular phone, or the like. The radio portion 2 isconstructed to hold a communication according to a predeterminedcommunication standard (for example, PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, GSM, or thelike).

Like the radio portion 2, the radio portion 3 is a circuit equipped witha radio communication function that is necessary for the mobile terminaldevice 50A to perform a function of a cellular phone, or the like. Theradio portion 3 is constructed to hold a communication according to thecommunication standard that is different from the communication standardto which the radio portion 2 corresponds.

Actually, it is assumed that, for example, the radio portion 2 isconstructed to meet the communication standard of (W-CDMA), and theradio portion 3 is constructed to meet the communication standard of(GSM). Accordingly, the user can hold a communication selectively in acommunication mode that corresponds to two types of communicationstandards respectively, by switching the radio portion 2 and the radioportion 3. Therefore, the user can hold a communication according to thecommunication standard to which the signaling system corresponds, ineither of a plurality of regions (countries). In this event, thecommunication standard to which the radio portion 2 corresponds and thecommunication standard to which the radio portion 3 corresponds may bevaried in response to a situation of the region where the mobileterminal device 50A is sold, for example.

The TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 is an electric circuit thatoutputs the television signal in the standard format decided based onthe signaling system of a television set 8 connected to the outside ofthe mobile terminal device 50A. Also, the TV-OUT signal outputtingportion 7 can deal with plural types of signaling systems (NTSC, PAL,SECOM), and can output the analog television signal in the standardformat that meets the selected signaling system.

It is assumed that, in the television signal output by the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7, information of images such as a photograph, amoving picture, etc. shot with a camera (not shown) installed into themobile terminal device 50A and sounds, for example, are contained in amode of the analog signal. As the television set 8 connected to theoutside of the mobile terminal device 50A, the television receiverequipped with a function of receiving the broadcast wave, the televisionmonitor equipped with a function of displaying the television signalthat various equipments output on a screen, or the like is assumed.

The TV signaling system selecting portion 6 produces a control signalthat switches the signal format of the television signal, which isoutput from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 to the television set8, to meet the signaling system and then outputs this control signal tothe TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 is constructed by aninputting device such as an operable button, for example. The TV-OUToutputting requesting portion 4 issues a request (TV-OUT outputtingrequest) regarding to that the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 startsthe operation to output the analog television signal in the standardsignaling system, in response to the inputting operation of the user.This request is applied to the controlling portion 5.

The controlling portion 5 controls respective portions in the mobileterminal device 50A in answer to the contents of the predeterminedprogram and a change in situation. In this case, the controlling portion5 may be constructed by a microprocessor or may be constructed by ahardware such as a logic circuit dedicated to control use.

The process procedures of characteristic operations regarding to themobile terminal device 50A shown in FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 2. In otherwords, contents of control applied to output the television signal inthe standard format from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 in themobile terminal device 50A and then input the television signal into thetelevision set 8 are shown in FIG. 2. Respective steps in FIG. 2 will beexplained hereunder.

In step S001, the controlling portion 5 checks whether or not apredetermined TV-OUT outputting request is input from the TV-OUToutputting requesting portion 4. If the TV-OUT outputting requestingportion 4 outputs the TV-OUT outputting request in response to theinputting operation from the user, or the like, the process in thecontrolling portion 5 goes to step S002.

In step S002, the controlling portion 5 checks whether or not one radioportion 2 is in operation. If the radio portion 2 is in operation, thecontrolling portion 5 transmits the information indicating that theradio portion 2 is in operation, to the TV signaling system selectingportion 6. Then, the process goes to step S003. In contrast, if theradio portion 2 is not in operation, the process goes to step S004.

In step S003, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6 checks a stateof the radio portion 2 based on the information input from thecontrolling portion 5 (the information indicating that the radio portion2 is in operation). Then, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6produces the control signal to select the signaling system (any one ofNTSC, PAL, and SECAM) that is correlated in advance with thecommunication standard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and GSM, forexample) to which the radio portion 2 corresponds. Then, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6 outputs this control signal to theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

In step S004, the controlling portion 5 checks whether or not the otherradio portion 3 is in operation. If the radio portion 3 is in operation,the controlling portion 5 transmits the information indicating that theradio portion 3 is in operation, to the TV signaling system selectingportion 6. Then, the process goes to step S005.

In step S005, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6 checks a stateof the radio portion 3 based on the information input from thecontrolling portion 5 (the information indicating that the radio portion3 is in operation). Then, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6produces the control signal to select the signaling system (any one ofNTSC, PAL, and SECAM) that is correlated in advance with thecommunication standard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and GSM, forexample) to which the radio portion 3 corresponds. Then, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6 outputs this control signal to theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

In step S006, the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 selects onesignaling system (any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) in accordance withthe control signal output from the TV signaling system selecting portion6, and outputs the television signal in the signal format that meets thecommunication standard.

Namely, if the radio portion 2 is in an operation state, the signalingsystem used to define the signal format of the television signal thatthe TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 outputs is selected automaticallybased on the communication standard to which the radio portion 2corresponds. If the radio portion 2 is in a non-operation state and alsothe radio portion 3 is in an operation state, the signaling system usedto define the signal format of the television signal that the TV-OUTsignal outputting portion 7 outputs is selected automatically based onthe communication standard to which the radio portion 3 corresponds.

For example, if the radio portion 2 is in operation and thecommunication standard to which the radio portion 2 corresponds is(W-CDMA), the TV signaling system selecting portion 6 produces thecontrol signal such that the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 selectsthe signaling system that is correlated with (W-CDMA). Also, if theradio portion 2 is not in operation and the radio portion 3 is inoperation and the communication standard to which the radio portion 3corresponds is (GSM), the TV signaling system selecting portion 6produces the control signal such that the TV-OUT signal outputtingportion 7 selects the signaling system that is correlated with (GSM).

Concretely, in many cases (NTSC) is employed as the signaling system ofthe television signal in the regions (countries) that employs thecommunication standard of (W-CDMA). Also, in many cases (PAL) isemployed as the signaling system of the television signal in the regions(countries) that employs the communication standard of (GSM). Therefore,the TV signaling system selecting portion 6 may apply the control suchthat the signaling system of (NTSC) is correlated with the communicationstandard of (W-CDMA) and the signaling system of (PAL) is correlatedwith the communication standard of (GSM).

As a result, when the mobile terminal device 50A is holdingcommunication by using the radio portion 2 according to thecommunication standard of (W-CDMA), (NTSC) is selected as the signalingsystem that defines the signal format of the television signal that theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 outputs. Also, when the mobileterminal device 50A is holding communication by using the radio portion3 according to the communication standard of (GSM), (PAL) is selected asthe signaling system that defines the signal format of the televisionsignal that the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 outputs.

Of course, the correspondence between the communication standardutilized in communication by the cellular phone, or the like and thesignaling system of the television signal may be varied appropriately tomeet an actual situation in each region. In this case, the mobileterminal device 50A is equipped with two radio portions 2 and 3, but oneradio portion may be provided when such one radio portion can respondselectively to plural types of communication standards. Also, respectivecorrespondences between plural types of communication standards and thesignaling systems of the television signal may be switched in responseto which one of the radio portion 2 and the radio portion 3 is nowoperating.

In any event, when it is intended that the television signal is outputfrom the mobile terminal device 50A shown in FIG. 1 and the images, andthe like are displayed on any television set 8, the signal format of thetelevision signal to be output by the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7is decided based on the signaling system that is selected automaticallyto meet the communication standard to which the radio portion 2 or theradio portion 3 in operation corresponds. As a consequence, in theregions (countries) in which the correspondence between thecommunication standard employed by the cellular phone, or the like andthe signaling system employed by the television signal can be specified,the adequate television signal that conforms to the signaling system ofthe television set 8 can be selected automatically in respective regionswhile the user travels around various regions.

Second Embodiment

Another embodiment regarding to the mobile terminal device of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5hereunder.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of principal portionsof a mobile terminal device in a second embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing principal operations of themobile terminal device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic viewshowing a configurative example of a table installed into the mobileterminal device shown in FIG. 3.

This embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment. Also, in FIG. 3,the same reference symbols are affixed to the elements corresponding tothose in FIG. 1 in notation.

As shown in FIG. 3, a mobile terminal device 50B in this embodiment isequipped with the radio portion 2, the radio portion 3, a radio portion9, a radio portion 10, the TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4, acontrolling portion 5B, a TV signaling system select portion 6B, and theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7. Also, a table 21 shown in FIG. 5 isinstalled into the TV signaling system selecting portion 6B.

As the concrete mobile terminal device 50B, the cellular phone terminal,the mobile information terminal (PDA), the PHS terminal, or the like isassumed.

The radio portion 2, the radio portion 3, the radio portion 9, and theradio portion 10 are the circuit that has a radio communicating functionrequired to implement a function of the cellular phone, etc. of themobile terminal device 50B respectively. The radio portion 2, the radioportion 3, the radio portion 9, and the radio portion 10 are constructedto handle communication according to the predetermined communicationstandard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, GSM, etc. for example)respectively.

In this event, the communication standard to which the radio portion 2corresponds, the communication standard to which the radio portion 3corresponds, the communication standard to which the radio portion 9corresponds, and the communication standard to which the radio portion10 corresponds are different. That is, the user can hold thecommunications responding to four types of communication standardsrespectively, by employing selectively the radio portion 2, the radioportion 3, the radio portion 9, and the radio portion 10.

Actually, it is assumed that the radio portion 2 is constructed toconform to the communication standard of (GSM), the radio portion 3 isconstructed to conform to the communication standard of (PDC), the radioportion 9 is constructed to conform to the communication standard of(W-CDMA), and the radio portion 10 is constructed to conform to thecommunication standard of (UMTS).

As a result, the user can hold the communication selectively in thecommunication mode responding to four types of communication standardsrespectively, by switching the radio portion 2, the radio portion 3, theradio portion 9, and the radio portion 10 in use. Therefore, the usercan establish the communication according to the communication standardto which the signaling system corresponds. In this case, thecommunication standards to which the radio portions 2, 3, 9, 10correspond respectively may be varied in response to a situation of theregion where the mobile terminal device 50B is sold, for example. Also,the number of radio portions provided to the mobile terminal device 50Bmay be further increased.

The TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 shown in FIG. 3 is the electriccircuit that outputs the television signal in the standard formatspecified by the standard to the television set 8 connected to theoutside of the mobile terminal device 50B. Also, the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 corresponds to plural types of signaling systems(NTSC, PAL, SECAM), and can output the analog television signals in thestandard format that meets the selected signaling system.

It is assumed that, in the television signal output by the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7, information of images such as a photograph, amoving picture, etc. shot with a camera (not shown) installed into themobile terminal device 50B and sounds, for example, are contained in theanalog signal mode. As the television set 8 connected to the outside ofthe mobile terminal device 50B, the television receiver equipped with afunction of receiving the broadcast wave, the television monitorequipped with a function of displaying the television signal thatvarious equipments output on a screen, or the like is assumed.

The TV signaling system selecting portion 6B shown in FIG. 3 produces acontrol signal that switches the signal format of the television signal,which is output from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 to thetelevision set 8, to meet the signaling system and then outputs thiscontrol signal to the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

The table 21 constructed as shown in FIG. 5 is provided in the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B. The information representing thecorrespondences between the communication standards (GSM, PDC, W-CDMA,UMTS, etc.) and the signaling systems (PAL, NTSC, SECAM, etc.), whichare allocated to plural radio portions 2, 3, 9, 10 in the mobileterminal device 50B respectively, are held in the table 21. Therefore,by reference to the contents of the table 21, the TV signaling systemselecting portion 6B can correlate respective radio portions 2, 3, 9, 10with the particular signaling system (any one of PAL, NTSC, SECAM, etc.)and can correlate each communication standard (any one of GSM, PDC,W-CDMA, UMTS, etc.) with the particular signaling system.

The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 shown in FIG. 3 isconstructed by an inputting device such as an operable button, forexample. The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 issues a request(TV-OUT outputting request) regarding to that the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 starts the operation to output the analogtelevision signal in the standard signaling system, in response to theinputting operation of the user. This request is applied to thecontrolling portion 5B.

The controlling portion 5B shown in FIG. 3 controls respective portionsin the mobile terminal device 50B in answer to the contents of thepredetermined program and a change in situation. In this case, thecontrolling portion 5B may be constructed by a microprocessor or may beconstructed by a hardware such as a logic circuit dedicated to controluse.

The process procedures of characteristic operations regarding to themobile terminal device 50B shown in FIG. 3 are shown in FIG. 4. In otherwords, contents of control applied to output the television signal inthe standard format from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 in themobile terminal device 50B and then input the television signal into thetelevision set 8 are shown in FIG. 4. Respective steps in FIG. 4 will beexplained hereunder.

In step S101, the controlling portion 5B checks whether or not apredetermined TV-OUT outputting request is input from the TV-OUToutputting requesting portion 4. If the TV-OUT outputting requestingportion 4 outputs the TV-OUT outputting request in response to theinputting operation from the user, or the like, the process in thecontrolling portion 5 goes to step S102.

In step S102, the controlling portion 5B checks whether or not the firstradio portion (A) 2 is in operation. If the radio portion 2 is inoperation, the controlling portion 5B transmits the informationindicating that the radio portion 2 is in operation, to the TV signalingsystem selecting portion 6B. Then, the process goes to step S103. Incontrast, if the radio portion 2 is not in operation, the process goesto step S004.

In step S103, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6B checks astate of the radio portion 2 based on the information input from thecontrolling portion 5B (the information indicating that the radioportion 2 is in operation). Then, the TV signaling system selectingportion 6B produces the control signal to select the signaling system(any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM.) that is correlated in advance withthe communication standard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and GSM,for example) to which the radio portion 2 corresponds. Then, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B outputs this control signal to theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

Actually, since the table 21 shown in FIG. 5 is provided to the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B, the TV signaling system selectingportion 6B specifies one signaling system, which is correlated with theinformation input from the controlling portion 5B, by referring to thecontents of the table 21. That is, in an example shown in FIG. 5, thecommunication standard of the radio portion (A) 2 is (GSM) and iscorrelated with the signaling system of (PAL). Therefore, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B produces the control signal suchthat the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 selects the signaling systemof (PAL).

In step S104, the controlling portion 5B checks whether or not thesecond radio portion (B) 3 is in operation. If the radio portion 3 is inoperation, the controlling portion 5B transmits the informationindicating that the radio portion 3 is in operation, to the TV signalingsystem selecting portion 6B. Then, the process goes to step S105. Incontrast, if the radio portion 3 is not in operation, the process goesto step S107.

In step S105, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6B checks astate of the radio portion 3 based on the information input from thecontrolling portion 5B (the information indicating that the radioportion 3 is in operation). Then, the TV signaling system selectingportion 6B produces the control signal to select the signaling system(any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) that is correlated in advance with thecommunication standard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and GSM, forexample) to which the radio portion 3 corresponds. Then, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B outputs this control signal to theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

Actually, like step S103, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6Bspecifies one signaling system, which is correlated with the informationinput from the controlling portion 5B, by referring to the contents ofthe table 21. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the communicationstandard of the radio portion (B) 3 is (PDC) and is correlated with thesignaling system of (NTSC). Therefore, the TV signaling system selectingportion 6B produces the control signal such that the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 selects the signaling system of (NTSC).

In step S107, the controlling portion 5B checks whether or not the thirdradio portion (C) 9 is in operation. If the radio portion 9 is inoperation, the controlling portion 5B transmits the informationindicating that the radio portion 9 is in operation, to the TV signalingsystem selecting portion 6B. Then, the process goes to step S108. Incontrast, if the radio portion 9 is not in operation, the process goesto step S109.

In step S108, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6B checks astate of the radio portion 9 based on the information input from thecontrolling portion 5B (the information indicating that the radioportion 9 is in operation). Then, the TV signaling system selectingportion 6B produces the control signal to select the signaling system(any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) that is correlated in advance with thecommunication standard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and GSM, forexample) to which the radio portion 9 corresponds. Then, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B outputs this control signal to theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

Actually, like step S103, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6Bspecifies one signaling system, which is correlated with the informationinput from the controlling portion 5B, by referring to the contents ofthe table 21. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the communicationstandard of the radio portion (C) 9 is (W-CDMA) and is correlated withthe signaling system of (NTSC). Therefore, the TV signaling systemselecting portion 6B produces the control signal such that the TV-OUTsignal outputting portion 7 selects the signaling system of (NTSC).

In step S109, the controlling portion 5B checks whether or not thefourth radio portion (D) 10 is in operation. If the radio portion 10 isin operation, the controlling portion 5B transmits the informationindicating that the radio portion 10 is in operation, to the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B. Then, the process goes to stepS110. In contrast, if the radio portion 10 is not in operation, theprocess goes to other process.

In step S110, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6B checks astate of the radio portion 10 based on the information input from thecontrolling portion 5B (the information indicating that the radioportion 10 is in operation). Then, the TV signaling system selectingportion 6B produces the control signal to select the signaling system(any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) that is correlated in advance with thecommunication standard (any one of PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, and GSM, forexample) to which the radio portion 10 corresponds. Then, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6B outputs this control signal to theTV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

Actually, like step S103, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6Bspecifies one signaling system, which is correlated with the informationinput from the controlling portion 5B, by referring to the contents ofthe table 21. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the communicationstandard of the radio portion (D) 10 is (UMTS) and is correlated withthe signaling system of (PAL). Therefore, the TV signaling systemselecting portion 6B produces the control signal such that the TV-OUTsignal outputting portion 7 selects the signaling system of (PAL).

In step S106, the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 selects onesignaling system (any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) in accordance withthe control signal output from the TV signaling system selecting portion6B, and outputs the television signal in the signal format that meetsthe communication standard.

In other words, if the radio portion 2 is in an operation state, thesignaling system to define the signal format of the television signalthat the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 outputs is selectedautomatically based on the communication standard to which the radioportion 2 corresponds. Also, if the radio portion 2 is not in anoperation state and the radio portion 3 is in an operation state, thesignaling system to define the signal format of the television signal tobe output by the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 is selectedautomatically based on the communication standard to which the radioportion 3 corresponds. Also, if the radio portions 2, 3 are not in anoperation state and the radio portion 9 is in an operation state, thesignaling system to define the signal format of the television signal tobe output by the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 is selectedautomatically based on the communication standard to which the radioportion 9 corresponds. Also, if all the radio portions 2, 3, 9 are notin an operation state and the radio portion 10 is in an operation state,the signaling system to define the signal format of the televisionsignal to be output by the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 isselected automatically based on the communication standard to which theradio portion 10 corresponds.

The correspondence between the communication standards and the signalingsystems of the television signals being registered in advance on thetable 21 in the TV signaling system selecting portion 6B may be decidedadequately in response to an actual situation of the signaling system inrespective regions (countries). Also, for example, plural types oftables whose contents are different respectively may be prepared as thetable 21, and then the table to be employed actually may be selected bya switch, or the like.

In any event, when it is intended that the television signal is outputfrom the mobile terminal device 50B shown in FIG. 3 and the images, andthe like are displayed on any television set 8, the signal format of thetelevision signal to be output by the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7is decided based on the signaling system that is selected automaticallyto meet the communication standard to which either of the radio portions2, 3, 9, 10 in operation corresponds. As a consequence, in the regions(countries) in which the correspondence between the communicationstandard employed by the cellular phone, or the like and the signalingsystem employed by the television signal can be specified, the adequatetelevision signal that conforms to the signaling system of thetelevision set 8 can be selected automatically in respective regionswhile the user travels around various regions. In particular, even whenthere exist various communication standards, the adequate signalingsystem to be selected can be simply specified by managing thecorrespondence between the communication standards and the signalingsystems while using the table 21.

Third Embodiment

Still another embodiment regarding to the mobile terminal device of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8hereunder. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration ofprincipal portions of a mobile terminal device in a third embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing principaloperations of the mobile terminal device shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is aschematic view showing a configurative example of a table installed intothe mobile terminal device shown in FIG. 6.

This embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment. Also, in FIG. 6,the same reference symbols are affixed to the elements corresponding tothose in FIG. 1 in notation.

As shown in FIG. 6, a mobile terminal device 50C in this embodiment isequipped with a radio portion 11, the TV-OUT outputting requestingportion 4, a controlling portion 5C, a TV signaling system selectingportion 6C, and the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7. Also, a table 22shown in FIG. 8 is installed into the TV signaling system selectingportion 6C.

As the concrete mobile terminal device 50C, the cellular phone terminal,the mobile information terminal (PDA), the PHS terminal, or the like isassumed.

The radio portion 11 is the circuit that has a radio communicatingfunction required to implement a function of the cellular phone, etc. ofthe mobile terminal device 50C. This radio portion 11 is constructedsuch that it can respond plural types of communication standards (PDC,CDMA2000, W-CDMA, GSM, etc. for example) respectively by switching itsown mode, and can handle communication according to any communicationstandard. Also, the radio portion 11 can communicate with a base station12 as the destination of radio communication, and can acquireinformation, by which the current region (the country in which themobile terminal device is located, or the like) can be specified, fromthe base station 12.

The TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 shown in FIG. 6 is the electriccircuit that outputs the television signal in the standard formatspecified by the standard to the television set 8 connected to theoutside of the mobile terminal device 50C. Also, the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 corresponds to plural types of signaling systems(NTSC, PAL, SECAM), and can output the analog television signals in thestandard format that meets the selected signaling system.

It is assumed that, in the television signal output by the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7, information of images such as a photograph, amoving picture, etc. shot with a camera (not shown) installed into themobile terminal device 50C and sounds, for example, are contained in theanalog signal mode. As the television set 8 connected to the outside ofthe mobile terminal device 50C, the television receiver equipped with afunction of receiving the broadcast wave, the television monitorequipped with a function of displaying the television signal thatvarious equipments output on a screen, or the like is assumed.

The TV signaling system selecting portion 6C shown in FIG. 6 produces acontrol signal that switches the signal format of the television signal,which is output from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 to thetelevision set 8, to meet the signaling system, and then outputs thiscontrol signal to the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

The table 22 constructed as shown in FIG. 8 is provided in the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6C. The information representing thesignaling systems (PAL, NTSC, SECAM, etc.) that are employed as thesignaling system of the television signal in plural regions (countries)respectively are held in the table 21.

Therefore, when the country in which the mobile terminal device islocated can be specified, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6Ccan specify the signaling system (any one of PAL, NTSC, SECAM, etc.) tobe selected, by referring to the contents of the table 22.

The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 shown in FIG. 6 isconstructed by an inputting device such as an operable button, forexample. The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 issues a request(TV-OUT outputting request) regarding to that the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 starts the operation to output the analogtelevision signal in the standard signaling system, in response to theinputting operation of the user. This request is applied to thecontrolling portion 5C.

The controlling portion 5C shown in FIG. 6 controls respective portionsin the mobile terminal device 50C in answer to the contents of thepredetermined program and a change in situation. In this case, thecontrolling portion 5C may be constructed by a microprocessor or may beconstructed by a hardware such as a logic circuit dedicated to controluse.

The process procedures of characteristic operations regarding to themobile terminal device 50C shown in FIG. 6 are shown in FIG. 7. In otherwords, contents of control applied to output the television signal inthe standard format from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 in themobile terminal device 50C and then input the television signal into thetelevision set 8 are shown in FIG. 7. Respective steps in FIG. 7 will beexplained hereunder.

In step S201, the controlling portion 5C checks whether or not apredetermined TV-OUT outputting request is input from the TV-OUToutputting requesting portion 4. If the TV-OUT outputting requestingportion 4 outputs the TV-OUT outputting request in response to theinputting operation from the user, or the like, the process in thecontrolling portion 5C goes to step S202.

In step S202, in accordance with the instruction of the controllingportion 5C, the radio portion 11 requests region information containingthe information representing the country, in which the mobile terminaldevice is located currently, of the base station 12. In response to thisrequest, the base station 12 transmits the region information thecontaining the information representing the country in which the mobileterminal device is located. Then, the radio portion 11 informs theregion information acquired from the base station 12 of the controllingportion 5C. Also, the controlling portion 5C informs the contents of theregion information (distinction of countries) informed from the radioportion 11 of the TV signaling system selecting portion 6C.

In step S203, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6C produces thecontrol signal to select the appropriate signaling system (any one ofNTSC, PAL, and SECAM) of the television signal in the current region(country) based on the contents of the region information (distinctionof countries) informed from the controlling portion 5C, and then outputsthis control signal to the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

Actually, since the table 22 is provided to the TV signaling systemselecting portion 6C, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6Cspecifies one signaling system, which is correlated with the currentregion (country), by referring to the contents of the table 22. Forexample, in case the table 22 shown in FIG. 8 is employed, the TVsignaling system selecting portion 6C produces the control signal suchthat (NTSC) is selected automatically as the signaling system when thecurrent region (country) detected is “Japan”, (PAL) is selectedautomatically as the signaling system when the current region (country)is “Spain”, and (SECAM) is selected automatically as the signalingsystem when the current region (country) is “France”.

In step S204, the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 selects onesignaling system (any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) in accordance withthe control signal output from the TV signaling system selecting portion6C, and outputs the television signal in the signal format that meetsthe communication standard.

The correspondence between the countries and the signaling systems ofthe television signals being registered in advance on the table 22 inthe TV signaling system selecting portion 6C may be decided adequatelyin response to the actual signaling system of the television broadcastin respective regions (countries). Also, for example, plural types oftables whose contents are different respectively may be prepared as thetable 22, and then the table to be employed actually may be selected bya switch, or the like. Also, the number of countries registered on thetable 22 may be increased as occasion demands.

Also, in the mobile terminal device 50C shown in FIG. 6, the case wherethe region information representing the countries are acquired from thebase station 12 is assumed. But the information representing thecommunication standard (distinctions such as PDC, CDMA2000, W-CDMA, GSM,etc., for example) to which the system corresponds may be acquiredinstead of the region information. In such case, the foregoing table 21may be employed instead of the table 22.

In any event, when it is intended that the television signal is outputfrom the mobile terminal device 50C shown in FIG. 6 and the images, andthe like are displayed on any television set 8, the signaling systememployed in the region (country) in which the mobile terminal device islocated at present is identified automatically, and also the signalformat of the television signal to be output by the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 is decided adequately. As a consequence, when theuser travels around various regions, the adequate television signal thatconforms to the signaling system of the television set 8 can be selectedautomatically in respective regions. In particular, the adequatesignaling system to be selected in various countries can be simplyspecified by managing the correspondence between the regions and thesignaling systems while using the table 22.

Fourth Embodiment

Further embodiment regarding to the mobile terminal device of thepresent invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10hereunder. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration ofprincipal portions of a mobile terminal device in a third embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing principaloperations of the mobile terminal device shown in FIG. 9.

This embodiment is a variation of the first embodiment. Also, in FIG. 9,the same reference symbols are affixed to the elements corresponding tothose in FIG. 1 in notation.

As shown in FIG. 9, a mobile terminal device 50D is equipped with a GPSreceiving portion 13, the TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4, acontrolling portion 5D, a TV signaling system selecting portion 6D, andthe TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

As the concrete mobile terminal device 50D, the cellular phone terminal,the mobile information terminal (PDA), the PHS terminal, or the like isassumed.

The GPS receiving portion 13 can receive simultaneously radio waves froma plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, and thencalculate information representing coordinates (latitude/longitude) ofthe position where the terminal device itself is located. In this case,a commercially available GPS receiver can be used as the GPS receivingportion 13.

The TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 shown in FIG. 9 is the electriccircuit that outputs the television signal in the standard formatspecified by the standard to the television set 8 connected to theoutside of the mobile terminal device 50D. Also, the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 corresponds to plural types of signaling systems(NTSC, PAL, SECAM), and can output the analog television signals in thestandard format that meets the selected signaling system.

It is assumed that, in the television signal output by the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7, information of images such as a photograph, amoving picture, etc. shot with a camera (not shown) installed into themobile terminal device 50D and sounds, for example, are contained in theanalog signal mode. As the television set 8 connected to the outside ofthe mobile terminal device 50D, the television receiver equipped with afunction of receiving the broadcast wave, the television monitorequipped with a function of displaying the television signal thatvarious equipments output on a screen, or the like is assumed.

The TV signaling system selecting portion 6D shown in FIG. 9 produces acontrol signal that switches the signal format of the television signal,which is output from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 to thetelevision set 8, to meet the signaling system, and then applies thiscontrol signal to the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7.

The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 shown in FIG. 9 isconstructed by an inputting device such as an operable button, forexample. The TV-OUT outputting requesting portion 4 issues a request(TV-OUT outputting request) regarding to that the TV-OUT signaloutputting portion 7 starts the operation to output the analogtelevision signal in the standard signaling system, in response to theinputting operation of the user. This request is applied to thecontrolling portion 5C.

The controlling portion 5D shown in FIG. 9 controls respective portionsin the mobile terminal device 50D in answer to the contents of thepredetermined program and a change in situation. In this case, thecontrolling portion 5D may be constructed by a microprocessor or may beconstructed by a hardware such as a logic circuit dedicated to controluse.

The process procedures of characteristic operations regarding to themobile terminal device 50D shown in FIG. 9 are shown in FIG. 10. Inother words, contents of control applied to output the television signalin the standard format from the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 inthe mobile terminal device 50B and then input the television signal intothe television set 8 are shown in FIG. 10. Respective steps in FIG. 10will be explained hereunder.

In step S301, the controlling portion 5D checks whether or not apredetermined TV-OUT outputting request is input from the TV-OUToutputting requesting portion 4. If the TV-OUT outputting requestingportion 4 outputs the TV-OUT outputting request in response to theinputting operation from the user, or the like, the process in thecontrolling portion 5D goes to step S302.

In step S302, in accordance with the instruction of the controllingportion 5D, the GPS receiving portion 13 receives simultaneously theradio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites, and then calculatesinformation of the latitude/longitude representing the current positionwhere the terminal device itself is located, based on the signals of thereceived radio waves. The controlling portion 5D is informed of theposition information calculated by the GPS receiving portion 13. Thecontrolling portion 5D specifies the concerned region (country) based onthe position information of latitude/longitude given from the GPSreceiving portion 13, and sends the information indicating the specifiedregion to the TV signaling system selecting portion 6D.

In step S303, the TV signaling system selecting portion 6D produces thecontrol signal to select the appropriate signaling system (any one ofNTSC, PAL, and SECAM) of the television signal in the current region(country) based on the contents of the region information (distinctionof countries) given by the controlling portion 5D, and then outputs thiscontrol signal to the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7. For example,the signaling system (NTSC, PAL, SECAM, or the like) of the televisionsignal employed at present in the region (country) by utilizing theforegoing table 22.

For example, in case the table 22 shown in FIG. 8 is employed, thecontrol signals are produced respectively such that (NTSC) is selectedautomatically as the signaling system when the region (country)containing the detected current position is “Japan”, (PAL) is selectedautomatically as the signaling system when the region (country)containing the detected current position is “Spain”, and (SECAM) isselected automatically as the signaling system when the region (country)containing the detected current position is “France”.

In step S304, the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7 selects onesignaling system (any one of NTSC, PAL, and SECAM) in accordance withthe control signal output from the TV signaling system selecting portion6D, and outputs the television signal in the signal format that meetsthe communication standard.

In the mobile terminal device 50D shown in FIG. 9, the case where afunction of identifying the region (country) by the coordinates of thecurrent position is provided to the controlling portion 5D is assumed.But either the region may be identified on the GPS receiving portion 13side or the region may be identified by the position coordinates on theTV signaling system selecting portion 6D side. In this event, it isdesirable that, like other embodiments, at least one radio portionshould also be incorporated into the mobile terminal device 50D.

In any event, when it is intended that the television signal is outputfrom the mobile terminal device 50D shown in FIG. 9 and the images, andthe like are displayed on any television set 8, the signaling systememployed in the region (country) in which the mobile terminal device islocated at present is identified automatically by utilizing the radiowaves from the GPS satellites, and also the signal format of thetelevision signal to be output by the TV-OUT signal outputting portion 7is decided adequately. As a result, when the user travels around variousregions, the adequate television signal that conforms to the signalingsystem of the television set 8 can be selected automatically inrespective regions. In particular, the adequate signaling system to beselected in various countries can be simply specified by managing thecorrespondence between the regions and the signaling systems while usingthe table 22.

As the method of detecting the coordinates of the current position,various methods can be considered other than the method of employing theGPS receiving portion 13.

The present invention is explained in detail with reference to theparticular embodiments. But it is apparent for those skilled in the artthat various variations and modifications can be applied withoutdeparting from a spirit and a scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, because the present invention is applied to themobile terminal device such as the cellular phone terminal, the mobileinformation terminal, the PHS terminal, or the like, for example, thetelevision signal, and the like can be output in an adequate signalformat to meet automatically the signaling system employed in respectiveregions in such a situation that the user who carries the mobileterminal device travels across various regions (countries). Therefore,there is no necessity to use selectively a plurality of mobile terminaldevices to suit each region, and also it is not necessary for the userto check the signaling system.

1. A mobile terminal device comprising: at least one radio communicatingportion capable of holding a radio communication in accordance with apredetermined communication standard; a standard signal outputtingportion for outputting a signal in a format based on a predeterminedsignaling system to any display device prepared on an outside; acommunication standard detector that detects a type of the communicationstandard selected based on operating condition or conditions of one or aplurality of radio communicating portions when one of the radiocommunicating portions conforms to plural types of communicationstandards or when the plurality of radio communicating portions conformto plural types of communication standards respectively; and a signalingsystem selector that selects automatically a signaling system of thesignal to be output by the standard signal outputting portion, inresponse to the type of the communication standard detected by thecommunication standard detector.
 2. The mobile terminal device accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a conversion table in which informationrepresenting signaling systems that are correlated with a plurality ofcommunication standards respectively are held in advance, wherein thesignaling system selector acquires information representing theconcerned signaling system by referring to the conversion table based onthe type of the communication standard detected by the communicationstandard detector, and decides the format of the signal to be output bythe standard signal outputting portion, based on the information.
 3. Themobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when a pluralityof the radio communicating portions that conform to plural types ofcommunication standards respectively are provided, the communicationstandard detector checks whether or not the plurality of radiocommunicating portions are in operation respectively, and detects thetype of the communication standard to which the radio communicatingportion that is in operation corresponds.
 4. A mobile terminal devicecomprising: at least one radio communicating portion capable of holdinga radio communication in accordance with a predetermined communicationstandard; a standard signal outputting portion for outputting a signalin a format based on a predetermined signaling system to any displaydevice prepared on an outside; a base station information acquiring unitthat acquires, from the radio base station as a destination ofcommunication, information to specify a region where the terminal deviceis located or information representing types of the communicationstandards to which a radio base station corresponds as base stationinformation by using the radio communicating portion when one of theradio communicating portions conforms to plural types of communicationstandards or when the plurality of radio communicating portions conformto plural types of communication standards respectively; and a signalingsystem selector that selects automatically a signaling system of thesignal to be output by the standard signal outputting portion, based onthe base station information acquired by the base station informationacquiring unit.
 5. The mobile terminal device according to claim 4,further comprising: a region conversion table in which informationrepresenting the communication standards or signaling systems that arecorrelated with a plurality of regions respectively are held in advance;wherein the signaling system selector refers to the region conversiontable based on the base station information acquired by the base stationinformation acquiring unit, and decides the signaling system of thesignal to be selected, based on the referred result.
 6. A mobileterminal device comprising: at least one radio communicating portioncapable of holding a radio communication in accordance with apredetermined communication standard; a standard signal outputtingportion for outputting a signal in a format based on a predeterminedsignaling system to any display device prepared on an outside; aposition information acquiring unit that acquires position informationrepresenting a current position of the terminal device itself; a regionspecifying unit that specifies a region where the terminal device itselfis located, based on the position information acquired by the positioninformation acquiring unit; and a signaling system selector that selectsautomatically a signaling system of the signal to be output by thestandard signal outputting portion, based on the information of thecurrent region specified by the region specifying unit.
 7. The mobileterminal device according to claim 6, further comprising: a regionconversion table in which information representing the communicationstandards or signaling systems that are correlated with a plurality ofregions respectively are held in advance; wherein the signaling systemselecting unit refers to the region conversion table based on theinformation of the current region specified by the region specifyingunit, and decides the signaling system of the signal to be selected,based on the referred result.